~ Two ladies, wine, and some great books

Wildest Dreams by Kristen Ashley

Summary via Goodreads: “Seoafin “Finnie” Wilde was taught by her parents that life was meant to be lived, every breath was a treasure and to seek every adventure she could find. And she learns this lesson the hard way when they perish in a plane crash when she’s fifteen. But she never forgets and when she discovers there is a parallel universe where every person has a twin, she finds a witch who can send her there so she can see her parents again and have the adventure of a lifetime.

But nearly upon arrival in the Winter Wonderland of Lunwyn, she realizes she’s been played by her twin of the alternate universe and shortly finds herself walking down the aisle to be wed to The Drakkar.

Instantly thrown into inauspicious circumstances, with years of practice (she did, of course, survive that elephant stampede, if she could do that, she can do anything), Finnie bests the challenges and digs into her adventure. But as Frey Drakkar discovers the woman who is his new wife is not Princess Sjofn, a woman he dislikes (intensely) but instead, his Finnie, a free-spirit with a thirst for venture just like him (not to mention she is his destiny), without her knowledge he orders his new bride bound to his frozen world, everlasting.”

My Review: This got a shining 5 out of 5 stars from me even thought i wanted to really give it like probably 8 out 5 stars, maybe 10.

Um WOW. holy FUCKING WOW. HO BOY! I don’t think there are words to describe how great this book was. Really there isn’t, so i will try my best but bear with me i could never explain to you how amazing this book was.

Since this was a beast of a book one song couldn’t possibly assign just one song to describe this book so the song that i assign is more to describe the love that i saw between Finnie and Frey which happens to also be my most favoritest songs ever! So this is like a huge ass deal kids! “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver

So my first/quick thoughts: Read it! Seriously just go read it. This quickly became a favorite of mine because of the strong, and very hilarious, charming, and enduring voice of the main character Finnie. I absolutely love books where the voice of the character/narrator shines off the pages – and no i am not talking about the glow from your reading device, maybe it your Kindle, Nook, computer, or sometype of e-reader – oh no i am talking about the seer force of just being AWESOME. And if that isn’t enough reason right there, the plot and romance will keep you up literally until 4 oclock in the morning only when you realize that you should probably sleep, but then get up four hours later – true story. Its fast paced and exciting. Oh my, oh my! i couldn’t get enough of this book, and i really don’t even want to waste time doing a review just so i can start the next but for you, i will go on!
So read it. No? You still want to know more?! Well okay!

Plot: (more in depth) This is hardcore fantasy, the reader is thrown into a whole new world, a parallel world to be correct that we as people each have a twinizes! Oh exciting for those who don’t have a twinizes in real life, i do but still that is pretty cool idea. Anyways As most REAL LIFE twins, our twins over there aren’t exactly like us over here. With that being said, i will move on from my rant about twins. So Finnie is desperate to see her dead parents, and i can’t say i relate but i feel like i understand her reasoning, but ho boy does she get more than she is bargained for! A totally fine husband thats what! Usually because i am that strange girl who doesn’t tend to like kids, and doesn’t dream of the day i get married – cra-cra i know but thats me for you and usually this is a total turn off for me in books so i know, i know that is just being discriminating but hey we have our things, with that being said i went with it, and it did not disappoint! I was glad i overlooked all that and went with it. This book has more twisties and turnies than i had been prepared for but the summary is pretty vague and that leaves a lot of room for adventure! Such good adventure too!! It has about everything i want in a fantasy! And personally i thought that the world Kristen Ashley created was amazing! Dragons, Elves, talking animals all that one could ask for in a fantasy, oh yeah and some really hot sex…what? i didn’t say but seriously. Yes there is so warn your 13 year old to not read this. This is a grown up fantasy! But really overall this book kept me up until 4 oclock in the morning which might not seem like a big deal to you but trust me when i say this it is and i didn’t even want to go to sleep i only did because i thought itd be best! Though i couldn’t stay away long because i woke up 4 hours later to finish. Did i mention it was beast of a book and it took me like a day to read? as i finished up another novel and started a book for one of my classes? Yes this was worth the read.

*I would like to mention also, though the pacing is amazing, and it is there were times i had to slow down and be like, whoa, whoa, whoa what is happening? What are you saying because i am thinking its just gibberish, but don’t worry because Finnie feels the same and we get answers to those questions so calm down!!

Characters!

OH I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!

Finnie: I LOVED HER. I swear to God i fell in love with her as a main character almost instantly! She was so funny, and so sweet. She wasn’t what i was expecting to be honest. I was expecting this very tom-boy-ish girl that loved adventure and was into like kick-boxing and all this stuff. it was actually nice though to see this clash of this girl that didn’t mind wearing dresses, and acting like a girl but still loved adventures. She was beyond bubbly, seriously again so funny and would ramble saying the funniest shit that i was just laughing throughout the book. Now don’t be mistaken to think that she can’t get mad, or sad because she can. She is really well developed, rounded character that makes this read worth it all the more. I think even if the plot sucked which it didn’t i would have read simply to see what Finnie would say next and what she would do next. So when it comes right down to it, i truly did love her. She is a character you won’t likely forget anytime soon.

Frey Drakkar: Wow. This man makes imposing look like nothing! At least how i pictured him. He was definitely scary at first, and honestly when we had brief moments following him i was very, very pissed off with him. He was very rash and did things without seemingly thinking them through. He acted without thought. But after our first few meetings with him we as readers come to see he is actually this really great guy. And yes we have a major fight with him but seriously the asshole deserved it! freaking asshole…anyways the book moves on and we see him change completely into this totally and utterly just sweet guy. I love him i truly do. He doesn’t have to go all possessive male on us because people don’t touch what is his so yeah, its sort of implied but i would have love to seen a scene like that just to see what he would do! Hmm i don’t think there is more i have to say about him other than that he was hot – in my head, and described – and awesome he was a great love interest that will threaten to replace your current book boyfriend because i know we all have one 😉

The other characters, and there are a lot of them so i am going to going to list all of them were awesome! They maintained their own personalities for the most part. The maids, or referred to as “her girls” kinda did become one blob entity but really it didn’t bother me all that much. Frey’s men though i was glad kept their personalities separate for the most part as they were a bigger part in this.

So my thoughts on the ending? For a bit i thought it was dragging and i was like can we skip this? but i understood the need for the closure on a lot of stuff so i was cool with it, and the very last few pages oh how i am tempted to curse you Kristen Ashley but i wont because the next one is out so i am happy as clam and can’t wait to dig in claws into it, if it is what i am hoping it is about! So with all that said my parting advice to you, if you love fantasy, if you love romance, if you love adventure, separately or together this is the book for you.

**I just looked up the next one, not who i was expecting but excited nonetheless